| Since the seventies there has always been talk of | | | | constitutional convention but rather through a |
| Australia breaking its ties with the Monarchy and | | | | series of town hall meetings across the country |
| becoming a republic. This gained a great deal of | | | | and submissions from the public. |
| momentum during the nineties with a constitutional | | | | The model I would propose is very different to |
| convention held in 1998 followed ultimately by a | | | | what other have put forward in the past, I am |
| failed referendum in 1999. So why did this | | | | proposing that we abolish the position of Govenor |
| referendum fail well in simple terms the pro | | | | General, but we dont replace it with a President. |
| republican movement in Australia simple could not | | | | Rather instead of this the Prime Ministers position |
| agree on the model for the future Australian | | | | become head of Australia and Head of |
| Republic. | | | | government, and this position be directly elected |
| Since this time the prospect of Australia becoming | | | | by the Australia people. It would be interesting to |
| a republic went onto the back-burner, and until the | | | | see how many of our past Prime Ministers would |
| recent election of the Rudd Labor government | | | | have one if they had to submit themselves to a |
| there has been very little serious talk on the | | | | nation wide vote rather than being elected by |
| Australian Republic. The reality is that Australia will | | | | their individual parties parliamentary members. |
| eventually become a republic, its just a matter of | | | | The parliament under my republican model would |
| when not if. The first step I think most people | | | | change aswell, with electorates being cut down to |
| now agree is a simple one just ask the Australian | | | | much smaller sizes where candidates would have |
| public a simple question, "Do you want Australia to | | | | to be elected on there record and personal |
| become a republic?". | | | | standing rather than the party machine. This |
| This question should be asked of the Australian | | | | would create the closest thing the world has ever |
| people at the earliest opportunity which for | | | | seen to true democracy, and meen that the |
| simplification purposes should be at the same time | | | | Prime Minister and the administration would have |
| as the federal election on or around 2010. Once | | | | to work to get their legislation through. At the end |
| we get the answer from this then as a | | | | of the day I believe that the model that Australia |
| community we get down to the business of | | | | does adopt must be a mesh of all the various |
| discussing the right model and the changes which | | | | republican models out there, and must be unique |
| will need to be made to our systems of | | | | to Australia's situation, because what works for |
| government to make it happen. However this | | | | other countries will not necessary work here. |
| should not be through a limited selection | | | | |